Abstract:

Quantum thermodynamics has the potential to impact energy science. Yet, the identification of scenarios characterized by a quantum supremacy, unmatched by the classical counterpart, remains challenging. In this talk I shall review recent advances in the engineering and optimization of quantum thermal machines. I will show that nonadiabatic many-particle effects can give rise to quantum supremacy in finite-time thermodynamics. 

Further, quantum heat engines can be operated at maximum efficiency and arbitrarily high output power by making use of shortcuts to adiabaticity. A thermodynamic cost of these shortcuts will be elucidated by analyzing the full work distribution function and introducing a novel kind of work-energy uncertainty relation. I shall close by discussing the identification of scenarios with a quantum-enhanced performance in thermal machines run over many cycles.

Bibliography:
M. Beau, J. Jaramillo, A. del Campo, Entropy 18, 168 (2016) 
J. Jaramillo, M. Beau, A. del Campo, New J. Phys. 18, 075019 (2016)
K. Funo, J.-N. Zhang, C. Chatou, K. Kim, M. Ueda and A. del Campo, arXiv:1609.08889 (2016)
G. Watanabe, B. P. Venkatesh, P. Talkner and A. del Campo, Phys. Rev. Lett. (2017).